Chorus can be an entertaining space combat adventure at times, but the mediocre moments take a considerble toll.

While Risen 3 doesn’t have great combat or an enthralling story, there’s a lot of content to delve into for those hungry for an open-world action/RPG, and that might be enough to entice fans to give it a try.

Acclaim didn't go out of its way to elevate the series - this is simply an enhanced version of last year's game seen from a new perspective. [Apr 2004, p.92]

All told, faithful arcade fans should have a look, but no one else should feel the need to drop in their tokens. [Oct 2005, p.140]

Sonic Team's most recent Wii offering is evidence that it's attempting to claw its way out of a deep grave crammed with disappointing titles. Some diehard Sonic fans with unlimited patience may find enjoyment here, but the rest of us should pick up one of Sonic's fully 2D titles until they get it right.

There’s not much to hate about The Conduit outside of some lamentably uninspired design decisions. There isn’t much to love, either. It feels like a 10-year-old game at times, albeit a reasonably polished one. It’s on Wii, though, and that will be enough for some people.

Seems to easily fall flat into the clutches of mediocrity. The multiplayer mode is nice, though. [April 2002, p.89]

A solid imitation of 2001's shareware "Bejeweled" (which is considerably cheaper). [Apr 2005, p.142]

Unfortunately, the shining strengths of the game are buried underneath a thick layer of rust that only the thirstiest of air-junkies should bother chipping through. [Feb 2010, p.95]

A few months ago, I reviewed LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. That game introduced some light RTS elements to the series, along with loads of vehicle-based missions, and a huge cast of playable characters. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean falls short of that high mark, delivering a more traditional LEGO experience. That's not to say that Pirates is a bad game – quite the contrary. It's just puzzling to see a series that has struggled to evolve take a step back. Where are the epic ship-to-ship vehicle battles? Why is the pirate-infested port hub so boring?

I love pounding bad guys with an array of cool attacks and inventive weapons, even if I feel robbed by cheap tricks. River City Girls’ chaotic battles are entertaining, but they’re surrounded by an array of decisions that add more inconvenience than challenge.

To say that I was bored while playing this game would be accurate... The quintessential throw-away game. [Feb 2003, p.102]

Some of the characters are very memorable and the game has a few scenes that are so bizarre they’re laughable, but the plot as a whole is pretty lame.

I want to like Salt and Sacrifice, and in some stretches, I do. I enjoyed exploring the world, concepts of hunting and crafting, and the moody atmosphere, which kept me continuing for dozens of hours. But its clunky progression systems and many maddening enemy encounters quickly make the fun times easy to forget.

Collecting codes and manipulating them is engaging, but the rest of the experience is merely functional.

A few months ago, I reviewed LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. That game introduced some light RTS elements to the series, along with loads of vehicle-based missions, and a huge cast of playable characters. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean falls short of that high mark, delivering a more traditional LEGO experience. That's not to say that Pirates is a bad game – quite the contrary. It's just puzzling to see a series that has struggled to evolve take a step back. Where are the epic ship-to-ship vehicle battles? Why is the pirate-infested port hub so boring?

If you're not able to get your hands on a next-gen system, C-12 is probably the best thing to satiate your Playstation desires. [July 2002, p.89]

If you're looking for a reinvention of the franchise, you'd best spend your money elsewhere. [Aug 2005, p.108]

I am a big fan of cinematic platformers. I appreciate this attempt at taking the mechanics and presentational focus of the genre and applying them to a fun cartoon. That part of the game, alongside the platforming and puzzles, works well and is attractive. Unfortunately, the frequent sneaking slows the game down and is a barrier instead of a fun series of challenges to overcome.

Crimson Sea 2 goes to great lengths (making you manage two camera buttons and a radar map) to disguise the fact that the developer screwed up by not simply offering a decent view of the action. [Apr 2004, p.98]

I couldn't get over the amateurish production values, camera bugs, and shallow camera controls. [Dec 2002, p.70]

The good doctor turns corners like he's skating around an ice arena. [Feb 2003, p.101]

I never would have thought that Mario and Jose Canseco would have a lot in common, but they both tarnish this great sport. [Sept 2005, p.104]

What’s left is a game that is clearly a few ­generations behind the times.

The puzzles are still fun and challenging, but the constant switching of characters can wear on your patience. [June 2003, p.120]

The third-person camera sometimes causes frustration, but otherwise this by-the-book action shooter serves up a spicy helping of mindless bloodshed.

If market trends and supply/demand curves don't set your blood aflame, Patrician III will have you napping in no time. [Jan 2004, p.157]

Concocting potions and humiliating dark wizards is fun for a while, but once the novelty is gone, Hogwarts loses all of its magic.